Locking mechanism



Aug. 26 1924.

. W. W. WATSON I .ocxms ucHANrsu Filed Nov. 5, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l Wfl/mm W Maison Aug. 26, 1924. A 4 1,506,699

" WATSON LOCKING MECHANISM mleduv. s, 1922 s Smeets-sneeb 2 M/)mm W Waisen Aug; 25,192@ 1,506,699

W; W. WATSON LOCKING MECHANISN Filed 'ov. 5, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ Patented Aug. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM W. WATSON, OF JAJIESTOVQN, 'NEVI YORK. i

LOCKNG MECHANISM.

Application filed November 3, 13%2.

T all whom t may con-ocra.'

Be it known that l, WILLIAM WY. VVArsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at city `of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking ltlechanisms, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings7 is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in a locking mechanism and more particularly 'to the application of such mechanism on desks and other cabinets provided with a plurality-of vertical series of drawers all l5 of which'are to be locked by a single mechanism.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a locking mechanism for locking all of the drawers in a plurality of vertical series in a desk actuated by a single element independent of any drawer, such mechanism including a plurality of latches capable of individual movement and of novel construction.

Other objects will appear from an examination of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof and in which'- Figure 1 designates a vertical sectional il() view taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 8, il-

lustrating the arrangement of the locking mechanism at the back of the desk.

F 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing furtherdetails of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2 and setting forth other details of thelocking mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view on a large scale of the key-operated lock intended to be used as a part of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the rear end of the drawer.

Fig. Y7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the locking mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of one of the vertical locking bars illustrating the provision therein for one of the individual drawer latches.

Fig. 9 is a. front elevation of the upper end of the vertical locking bar provided with a catch.

Fig. 10 is a section illustrating the relalli Serial No. 598,958.

tion of the locking mechanism, shown in Fig. 9, to the other parts of the desk.'

' Fig. 11 is a rear View of Yone of the ver-tifcal locking bars and illustrating `meansfor securing one of the latches.

Fig. 12 is a cross section 'taken alongvl the Fig. 17 is a perspective view'of'the portion of the locking mechanism intended to operate upon the center drawer of deskf Referring to the drawings the 'numeral 2O is used to vdesignate the desk whichis shown as of sheetmetal constructioh provided with a flat top. The formation 'of the top is, however, not essential and it .is obvious that this device can be applied to desk having a rolled or curtain top `witliequal facility. rlhe desk is of the usual form having two tiers of vertical drawers, "and a single center drawer equipped with locking mechanisms by which all of the drawers can be locked.

The 'locking mechanism consistsy 'of 4'the vertical strip which controlslthe righthand tier of drawers, the'vertical strip `A23 which controls the center dra-wer and the vertical strip 24 which controls the'l'efthand tier of drawers. I the locking mechanism of which the vertical strips 22 and 24 forni' parts areidentical and consequently only'one will beldescribed in detail the same reference numerals being applied to both.'

The strips 22 and 24, which are :preferably of channeled cross sectionin order to provide stiffness so that any strain" upon one of the locked drawers will riot'result in bending the locking bars, are supported at the lower ends by brackets 25 and at the upper ends by brackets 26. These brackets 26 are provided 'with' channel shaped slots 28 which will permit the reciprocation of the vertical strips 22 and 24. The upper brackets have a double purpose, actingvto guide the reciprccation of ahori- Zontal locking bar27 in addition'to the vertical strips 22 and-24. The horizontal The 'constructionsifof bar 27 is preferably made in three sections connected at 29. This construction is of importance when the mechanism is assemn bled and also permits the replacement of any section 3() or 30a when desired. In addition to the supports 26 at either end the horizontal bar 27 is supported at its center by means of a bracket 31 which is preferably formed with a supporting base 32. A notch 33 is provided in the side walls to permit free movement of the part 30 of bar 27 and slots 34 and 35 are formed in the upper and lower walls to permit the free movement of the vertical strip 23.

At the upper end of each vertical strip 22, 23 and 24 is provided a slot 36 inclined at approximately degrees. Carried on the horizontal bar 27 are three rollers 37, rotatably mounted upon pins 38 and lying, when properly assembled, in the slots 36. Hence, any horizontal movement of the bar 27 causes the vertical strips 22, 23 and 24 to rise and fall by reason of the travel of the rollers 37 in the slots 36.

This lengthwise movement of bar 27 is given by a horizontally reciprocable rod 39 which extends through the front wall of the desk and through an opening 4() in the horizontal bar 27. The rear end of the rod where it passes through the opening 40 is bent horizontally, as shown particularly in Fig. 7. A suitable bracket 41 provided with slots 42 and 43 supports the rear end of the rod 39 and co-operates with the opening through the front wall of desk to regulate the right line reciprocation of the rod. The end of the rod 39 which projects through the desk is provided with a knob 44 and below the rod 39 is provided a suitable lock 45, the bolt 64 of which normally engages a notch 46 in the rod.

The spring 47, suitably secured to the desk and rod, tends to hold the latter withdrawn into the released position so that the strips 22, 23 and 24 are raised and the drawers are unlocked. This spring is made of sufficient strength to draw the rod 39 forward the distance required by inclination of slots 36 to raise the strips 22, 23 and 24 and unlock all the drawers 48 in the desk.

At the rear of each drawer 48 is provided a right-angled clip 49 having a slotted opening 50-which is engaged by a spring latch 51 carried by the vertical strips. The latch 51 is preferably, as shown in Figs. 10 and 13, provided with a pointed hook 52. In the rear of the hook 52 are provided upper and lower notches 53, an upwardly extending lug 54 and two rearwardly projecting lugs 55 and 56. In each of the vertical locking strips 22, 23 and 24 are formed suitable slots 57 having an enlarged upper portion into which extends a center projection 59 from the upper wall and a reduced lower portion 60 in which the latch 51 normally lies. The projection 59 in the slot 57 is in alignment with the lug 54 on the latch so that together they receive and guide the coil spring 58 which acts to hold the latch in the lower portion 60 of the slot under normal conditions.

The latch is secured in the slot 60 by bending over the projecting lugs 55 and 56 which project through the slot beyond the back of the strip. These lugs are preferably bent in opposite directions, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and prevent withdrawal of the latch forwardly. A ring or catch 61 which rests in the notches 53 in front of the vertical bar prevents withdrawal rearwardly. rlhus the ring 61 and the lugs 55. 56 hold the latch in position but permit it to be raised or lowered in the slot 57.

1t will be readily observed that this formation of the latch permits a closing of any drawer after the remaining drawers in desk have been completely locked since the plate 49 at the back of the drawer 48 strikes the inclined face of the latch 51 and raises it against the action of the spring 58 until the drawer has been completely closed when the hook 52 drops into the slot 5() and locks the drawer in place.

The lock 45 may be made of any desired form. Fig. 5, it will be noted, shows a lock comprising a cam plate 63 which is secured to and actuated by a tumbler 62. The cam plate 63 serves to retract the bolt 64 by bearing against the flange 65, which movement of the bolt 64 is resisted by the spring 66 which bears against the rear face of the ange 65 and tends to impel the bolt at all times into engagement with the rod 39.

Tn order to lock the drawers the rod 39 is pushed into the position shown in Fig. 2 which movement by reason of the bent in ner end of the rod causes the bar 2.7 to move to the right. This movement of the bar causes the rollers in the slot 36 to depress the strips 22, 23 and 24 and thus through the latches 51 to lock the drawers in position.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, I am not to be limited thereto since it is obvious that others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the. invention as set forth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what T claim as new and for which l desire the protection of Letters Patent is:

1. In a desk having a vertical series of drawers and a center drawer, locking mechanism for functioning upon all said drawers simultaneously comprising a plurality of vertical strips, latches on each strip arranged to engage and lock each drawer, a horizontal bar, means connecting said bar to said strips, an aperture in said bar, a reciprocatory rod having a horizontally bent inner end which end rests in said aperture whereby the reciprocation of said rod causes the bar to reciprocate at right angles thereto.

2. In a desk having a plurality of vertical series of drawers, locking mechanism for functioning upon all said series simultaneously comprising` a horizontal bar, a vertical strip for each series, latches on each strip arranged to engage and lock each drawer each of said strips being provided at the up er end with an inclined slot, rollers on saicllbar one roller lying in each slot, and means for horizontally reciprocating said bar whereby the travel of the rollers will reciprocate the strips and move said latches into or out of locking engagement with said drawers.

3, Locking mechanism for a drawer comprising a reciprocatory strip having a slot therein, a latch lying in said slot, said latch having rearwardly projecting lugs bent at right angles to engage one face of said strip adjacent said slot, and notches which when the latch lies in the slot are beyond the opposite face of said strip and means engaging said notches to co-operate with said lugs to hold the latch in lace.

4. Locking mec ianism 'for a drawer' comprising a reciproca-tory strip having a slot therein, a latch lying in said slot, said latch having rearwardly projecting lugs bent at right angles to engage one face of said strip adjacent said slot, and notches which when the latch lies in the slot are beyond the opposite face of said strip and a ring in said notches, said `ning and lugs being on opposite sides of said strip to hold said latch in said slot.

5. Locking mechanism for a horizontal series o drawers comprising a vertically reciprocable strip in the rear of each drawer, latches on said strips for engaging and loclr ing the drawers in place when the strips are in one posit-ion, a horizontally reciprocable bar, means for transmitting motion from said bar to said strips, an aperture in said bar, a rod having a horizontally bent inner end which rests in said aperture whereby horizontal reciprocation or said rod causes said bar to reciprocate horizontally at right angles to said rod and said strips to reciprocate vertically thus locking or unlocking said drawers.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature.

WILLIAM V. 1iNriTSN. 

